Musings on The Elder Scrolls V and VI · 8:36am Sep 19th, 2017
Ever since I've returned from vacation, I've started another playthrough of Skyrim, and again it's made me think of the possibilities of Elder Scrolls VI, whenever it comes around. Bethesda has recently told us that it's "not happening soon."
Even though The Elder Scrolls Online released in 2014 to lukewarm reception, when it comes to the lore, Skyrim and its DLC are still the latest events in the timeline; which got me thinking to the potential future, mainly because of the civil war questline in Skyrim.
The last time I checked, there was no reliable consensus of how players sided in the Skyrim Civil War. Early on, many assumed they fought against the Imperial Empire. This is hardly a surprise, given that the Imperials were moments away from executing you for guilt by association, stopped only by the deus ex machina appearance of Alduin at the beginning of the game. I have never sided with the Imperials in any of my playthroughs. With a Stormcloak victory, the province of Skyrim splits from the Empire and restores the worship of Talos. Split from the empire or not, I'd doubt the elves of the Dominion would tolerate that.
That got me thinking of the Empire, and how even more vulnerable it would be to the Aldmeri Dominion. If the Imperials won, the Empire remains united, though Talos worship remains blasphemous.
So when Elder Scrolls VI finally sees the light of day; what will be canon? Who won the civil war? How much time will have passed? What was Paarthurnax's fate? Those are just a few of the questions I've had in my head this past week.
I'm honestly not expecting Elder Scrolls VI until 2020, and no announcement until probably 2019.
My pipe dream? Bethesda forms one of the biggest development teams in history and brings us The Elder Scrolls VI: Tamriel.
All of the provinces. Make it one of the biggest fantasy RPG's ever made.
Amen to that, brother.
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I would also wholeheartedly welcome Elder Scrolls VI having us take the fight to the Aldmeri Dominion. After the Thalmor in Skyrim, nothing would please me more than setting those elven supremacist assholes on fire.
I rather like playing Khajiit in Skyrim, partly because both sides don't really like you. When you're an outcast, which side do you choose: the one that just tried to kill you or the one where many cities wouldn't even let you into their walls? It's an interesting narrative.
Just as a stopgap, if Bethesda decides not to go Tamriel, they could try Summerset Isles. Justify not having a straight answer because the main character's grown up with history that's been distorted by the ruling class. You could also do a thing like in KOTOR II, where you use dialogue choices to determine what the world's like now.